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Residents at Pima hearing urge preserving irrigation and removing center turn lane in Main Street redesign
Summary
At a May 13 public hearing, Pima residents pressed town leaders to drop a center turning lane, keep one sidewalk, protect irrigation ditches and address runoff as the town works with ADOT and engineers on Main Street designs.
Vice Mayor Teresa Bailey opened a public hearing May 13 on design options for Main Street and heard extensive resident concern about drainage, sidewalks and the proposed center turning lane. Manager Venon Batty told the council he is working with ADOT and engineers on design plans and said the town will seek funding once designs are finalized.
Multiple residents recommended adopting design standards and changes to reduce impacts from surrounding agricultural runoff. Brent Morris urged the council to adopt "Mac Specs" for roadway dimensions; Gary Bell, Amy Humphrey and several other residents suggested dropping the center turning lane and building a single sidewalk on one side of the street rather than sidewalks on both sides. Amy Humphrey, who said she works with the Natural Resource Convention Center and Gila Valley Irrigation, asked about how engineering will address water runoff and urged preserving the existing irrigation culvert. Larry and Bunny Humphrey warned that runoff and silt could fill curb-and-gutter channels and described past problems with children near ditches.
Several residents asked for low-water crossings to channel overflow safely and for wider travel lanes instead of a center turn lane. Jason Brimhall said the chosen speed limit will influence the road design and suggested a 35 mph limit. Manager Batty invited Amy Humphrey to participate in Main Street design meetings and said drainage engineering would be provided by the consultants.
Councilmember Cade Bryce summarized the public input during the hearing: wider lanes, no center turning lane, a single continuous sidewalk and low-water crossings. Vice Mayor Bailey closed the hearing at 7:58 p.m.; the motion to close carried unanimously.
Why it matters: Main Street design will determine traffic flow, pedestrian access and how agricultural runoff is managed in town. Residents emphasized preserving existing irrigation infrastructure and minimizing new features that could increase maintenance or flood risk. The council will consider resident input as it finalizes designs with ADOT and engineers before pursuing funding.
